Chapter 23: Encountering a Casting Replacement by a Privileged Actor

Three days later, the final confirmed cast list was sent to the class group chat by the instructor.

Her roommates opened the document with Shen Li, their hearts full of anticipation, only to freeze in collective shock once they saw the contents.

"A-Yu" — Xu Zishan.

Xu Zishan from Class Eight?

"What's going on?" Wang Chuhan asked, looking bewildered. "Wasn't it decided on the spot that Shen Li would play this role? How did it end up being Xu Zishan?"

Sun Yuan was also extremely surprised. Recalling the audition that day, she felt indignant on Shen Li's behalf: "What the hell? The role Xu Zishan auditioned for that day wasn't 'A-Yu.' How did she end up getting this role?"

And looking further down.

"A-Ru" — Shen Li.

The roles the two had ultimately been assigned were the exact ones they had auditioned for on that day—they had been completely swapped.

"There must be a mistake." Wang Chuhan patted the stunned Shen Li and urged, "Shen Li, hurry and ask Teacher Zhang if the production crew made a mistake and mixed you up with Xu Zishan."

Sun Yuan nodded in agreement.

Only Zhao Meina suddenly looked at Shen Li and sighed: "Shen Li, don't bother asking. I expect this is just how it is. You can't change anything now."

"Meina, what do you mean by that?" Wang Chuhan's brows furrowed. "Do you know something?"

Shen Li looked up as well, her eyes slightly red and brimming with tears, though she was fighting hard not to cry.

She had been looking forward to playing "A-Yu" so much.

Seeing Shen Li's pitiful appearance, Zhao Meina felt a pang of heartache and took her hand: "During military training yesterday, I accidentally overheard some news coming from Class Eight. They said Xu Zishan's father invested five hundred yuan into the production of *Destiny of the Phoenix*."

"Five hundred yuan?" Wang Chuhan and Sun Yuan were shocked simultaneously, instinctively glancing at Shen Li.

To their surprise, upon hearing Zhao Meina's words, the grievance in Shen Li's eyes dissipated by seventy percent.

As if accepting this outcome, she nodded gently and spoke in a low voice, "I felt a bit unwilling just a moment ago, but if she only got this role by spending five hundred yuan, then I don't feel quite as bad."

"Shen Li..."

Her roommates felt she was merely putting on a brave face; anyone who experienced such an injustice would feel it was unfair. How could she accept it so calmly?

But Shen Li forced a smile and shook her head at her roommates: "I'm serious. Although 'A-Yu' is the maid with the most room for performance, at the end of the day, she's still just a maid. It doesn't make much difference who plays her. But if she can bring five hundred yuan of investment to the crew, I can understand that."

Wang Chuhan and Sun Yuan hugged her from both sides, offering silent comfort.

Zhao Meina also patted her hand: "Actually, this happens quite often in the entertainment industry. You're bound to encounter it in the future. Consider this your first lesson after your first audition—a way to temper your mindset."

Shen Li nodded: "Many students didn't even get a role. At least I get to play 'A-Ru.' It's pretty good."

Seeing her so optimistic, her roommates breathed a slight sigh of relief.

Meanwhile, after staying indoors for three days straight, Shen Ci finally finished reading the nearly two-million-word novel *Destiny of the Phoenix* in her dorm.

Although she had only skimmed through it quickly, she had grasped the main plot and the character settings of the primary figures.

"You finally finished it?"

Gu Lianxing held a plate of green salad and shook her head in amazement. "You're incredible. When I read this book, it took me nearly a month. I was devastated for two or three days when the Second Young Lady died. I cried so much..."

Setting the salad down, she said with sparkling eyes, "You haven't left the dorm for three days. Li Xiao has come by three days in a row. I just sent him away when I went downstairs to get my takeout. Let's go out to eat? I want to go to that little restaurant we went to last time."

Shen Ci smiled and nodded. Since Gu Lianxing had been helping her buy meals while she was cooped up reading the novel, she naturally wanted to treat her in return.

On the way out of the school, Shen Ci made a video call to her sister.

Since her sister was currently in military training, she could only be reached in the evenings.

The video connected quickly. Before either could speak, Shen Ci noticed something was off.

Although Shen Li was acting optimistic and strong, she had clearly had a quiet cry while showering just now; the Apple camera revealed her eyes were noticeably red.

"What happened?" Shen Ci's smile vanished as she asked.

Shen Li quickly forced a smile: "It's nothing, Sis. I actually wanted to tell you some good news. The crew for *Destiny of the Phoenix* came to our school to scout actors a few days ago, and I got a role."

Shen Ci was stunned. Such a coincidence?

"I just finished reading the book. Who are you playing?" Shen Ci asked.

"I'm playing 'A-Ru,' the little maid serving the Fourth Young Lady."

Shen Ci thought carefully before remembering such a minor cannon fodder character; in the middle of the novel, she was beaten to death for "taking the blame on behalf of her mistress."

"Sister, Shen Li was originally supposed to play 'A-Yu,' but the role was snatched by someone with connections and investment."

Suddenly, Wang Chuhan squeezed into the camera's view and spoke loudly. Before Shen Li could react, she saw her sister's expression darken.

Gu Lianxing, standing beside Shen Ci, also frowned upon hearing this: "Isn't your sister a freshman? People are already using these kinds of tactics to compete?"

"A-Li, tell me exactly what happened," Shen Ci asked calmly.

Seeing that she couldn't hide it, Shen Li recounted the entire ordeal. At the end, fearing her sister would be unhappy, she added with forced lightness, "But I think it's fine. Having something is better than nothing. There will be other opportunities later."

Shen Ci naturally felt for her sister, but from her perspective, she didn't want her to play "A-Yu" either.

"A-Li, listen to me. The role of 'A-Yu' isn't suitable for you. Even though the director and the instructors think you performed well, it is precisely because of that that I don't want you to play this role."

"This character is a villain. Although she's just a minor supporting character, if you play her too well, it's very easy for a newcomer to be typecast. What if everyone only comes to you to play wicked maids in the future?"

Shen Ci wasn't just offering empty comfort or being alarmist. Many actors who have just debuted are limited by the roles in their first work; once they perform too exceptionally, many similar types of roles will come knocking.

Moreover, she couldn't let her sister play a maid—no matter whose maid.

Even if she couldn't be the female lead right away, she had to be a supporting character with highlight moments.

For example, the Second Young Lady in the novel—timid, kind, and carefree in the early stages, but ultimately choosing to die for the female lead in the later stages. If she could get her sister to play such a good role, she would surely gain a massive following.